The initial questions should be: 'what looks good on the man and what will complement his colouring and body shape and also suit his personality, lifestyle and budget?' Once the man has understood these points about himself then he and you, if you are the main shopper for him, will ensure that he has a wardrobe enabling him to be well dressed and comfortable whatever the situation, business or casual.
Colouring
Look at your man's colouring. Is his look pale or very strong and definite? Is his overall appearance golden or would it be best described as cool? Is the overall look very striking or quite muted or do you recognise a combination of some of these characteristics? Just as the balance of colouring in a woman indicates the range of colours to suit her, the same is true of a man. Knowing which palette of colours is best for your man will certainly enable him to be more confident in his colour choice. If you enlist the help of an image consultant she/he will not only ascertain the range of colours but also give guidance on how these colours can be worn. This will help in choosing combinations from the wardrobe and enable colours to be put together confidently both for business and casual functions.
Body shape
As for women, it is important for a man to pay attention to his body shape when buying clothes. Underneath all the clothes, look at the width of the shoulders & how much waist definition there is. Are there curved areas that need disguising? A man's body is more straightforward to dress than that of a woman. However, learning about body shape and understanding which styles, fabrics, textures and patterns work best will make all the difference between just wearing clothes and being well dressed. This is true whether you're thinking about formal clothes or very casual ones. Besides body shape it is important to take account of the scale and proportions of the body. For example, if the man has short legs, learning how to give an illusion of more height can come as a real surprise and give an increase in confidence in his overall look.
Style
You may feel that you know how your man likes to dress and what styles he prefers. But are you sure it is his style and not your style that is being portrayed in him? Is he a man of tradition, always liking to have coordinated clothing? If so, buying him bold colours in dramatic styles is likely to mean the clothes stay in the wardrobe. By finding out the true style of the man, an image consultant can help the man use this information to tie the whole wardrobe together and make choosing complete outfits so much easier. As a woman, buying for the man, this information is very helpful. You might be thinking that you've chosen an item in the right colour, it certainly fits the man and yet he has never chosen to wear it. If this is the case, the reason is most likely to be that it hasn't suited his style.
Dressing for different occasions
This seems to be a big concern voiced by men during a style and image consultation. Although this may sound like an over generalisation most men seem to work on the principle of having two completely different wardrobes, a work one and a non-work one. This can be fine for a while; if there is a major change in circumstances then this system may not cope for example if a man has a career change. Retirement means is another major change and clothes that were smart for work may not be suitable for smart occasions when retired. By auditing the current wardrobe and discussing this in terms of lifestyle and budget , it is possible to pinpoint those clothes that gain their place, those that can be passed on to charity and what should go on a wish list.
By helping your man to understand more about how to make the most of himself and his image, whatever his age, shape or budget, you will know that your help with clothes will be more focused. Why not fix up an image consultation for him right away. Do ask him if he'd like you to be present. If the answer is yes, promise yourself you will only speak when asked for your thoughts. Remember the consultation is to help your man, so he always looks good and feels great.
Janet Major is a Senior image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful Image Consultants. Located on the South Cheshire/North Staffordshire border, Janet offers advice on all aspects of personal and corporate image, such as colour analysis, style consultations and make-up lessons for women; colour and style and image for men and tailor made sessions designed to improve the personal image portrayed by individuals in business. She carries out one-to-one consultations, group workshops and presentations. She contributes to magazines and newspapers on these aspects.
